Adjustable outlet for electrical apparatus.



W. T. THOMAS & T. PAISTE. ADJUSTABLE OUTLET FOE ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

ARPLIGATION FILED MAR.9,1910.

Patented June 13, 1911.

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WILLIAM T. THOMAS, 01E GLENSIDE, AND HENRY T. PAISTE, OF.PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE H. T.' PA'ISTE COMPANY, INC., OF PHILA- IDELPHIA, PENN SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ADJUSTABLE OUTLET FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pa,tented June 13, 1911,

Application filed March 9, 1910. Serial No. 548,277.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM T. THOMAS and HENRY T. PAISTE, citizens of the United States, residing in Glenside, county of Montgomery, State of Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia,-county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, respectively, have invented certain Improvements in Adjustable Outlets for Electrical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

One object of our invention is to provide a relatively simple and easily adjustable attachment for the outlet openings of wall cabinets, outlet or junction boxes, switch boxes, or other containers for electrical or other apparatus, whereby. the size and if desired the shape of the opening to which the device is applied may be conveniently and rapidly changed or may be closed altogether.

We further desire to provide an attachment for an opening of a container of the class above noted, which may be quickly adjusted to receive conduits, conductors, or bushings of widely different shapes, and which while efiiciently performing the. functions for which it is designed, will occupy but relatively little space and be of a substantial nature.

These objects and other advantageous ends we secure as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to. the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a perspective view of a wall cabinet or switch box showing our invention as applied thereto; Fig. 2, is a front elevation of a portion of one side of the box shown in Fig. 1, illustrating an opening therein as closed by our adjustable attachment; Fig. 3, is a perspective View of the adjustable outlet-closing or adjusting memher, and Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are vertical sections illustrating the adjustable member in three of its possible positions.

In the above drawings, 1 represents a switch or cut out box usually formed of sheet metal and having in its sides any de sired number of openings, of which one is indicated at 2.

tween the conduit,

lated conductors themselves. In order that it may be possible to form a tight joint beand the wall or side of the box through which it passes, it is necessary that the opening in said side may be altered as to size, and-in some cases, its shape also, for which purpose we provide an adjustable plate 3 preferably mounted on a pivot 4: on the inside of the box structure. In the present instance the pivot is provided by a screw 4, and the plate 3 itself is circular in form,

although it will be understood that its actual.

outline is immaterial. Said plate has formed init a number of openings, indicated at 5, 6, and 7, and it is obvious that more or. less than this number of openings may be employed without departing from our invention. In addition there is provided in said plate a circular pressed-out or projecting portion 8, of such sizeand shape as to be capable of fitting into the opening 2 in the side of the box, and the pivot screw 4.- is so placed as to tnake it possible to bring any one of the openings 5, 6, or 7, or the pressed out portion 8, to a position immediately adjacent and in line with the opening 2. This latter is in the present instance of a diameter greater than that of any of the openings inthe plate,

bushing, or conductor and of these, the opening 6 is of U-shaped form and extends inwardly from the edge of the plate toward the center thereof; its width being somewhat less than that of the opening 2.

The opening 6 is in the present instance of circular form, of less diameter than-the opening 2, while the opening 5 has the shape of a figure eight, and is designed for the reception of a pair of twisted conductors or conduits. The opening 7 on the other hand, is designed to fit into the annular recess of a bushing 9 of porcelain or other insulating material and in order to mount such a bushing in place, it is necessar to remove the plate 3 and after inserting 1t in the position shown in Fig. 4, to slide the plate into position so that said bushing is retained in place by the edges of the opening 7. The

screw 4 is then set up so as to hold the parts in place.

If it be desired to utilize one of the openings 5, 6, or 7, in the cases illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6, the plate is mounted against I the inside of the box so that its pressed out portion 8 extends away from the wall to which it is adjacent. When, however,it is desired to close the opening 2 in the side alter the size or shape of the opening, the

screw 4: is loosened and the plate 3 is turned until the desired orifice is brought opposite said opening, after which the screw 4: is-

again setup.

We do not in this application claim an outlet box having a plate adjustably mounted adjacent an opening therein and itself provided with, an opening capable of cooperating with the opening in the box; the plate being formed to fit into and close the box opening. Nor do we claim a box having an opening with a plate mounted adjacent said opening and provided with a substan tially U-shaped recess capable of being brought into osition to co-act with the opening in the ox, as well as having a portion capable of closing this opening, since these are described and claimed in an application for patent of Henry T. laiste, Serial No. 459,425, filed Qct. 24, 1908.

We claim 1. The combination of a wall having an opening; with a plate adjnstably mounted adjacent said opening and provided with an opening capable of being brought into line with the opening of the wall; said plate having a laterally projecting portion capable of 1filttlng into and closing the opening of the wa Y 2. The combination with a wall having an opening; a plate movably mounted ad'acent said opening and provided with a su stan tially U-shaped recess capable of being brought in line with theopening in the wall; said plate also having a laterally projecting pressed out portion capable of closing the opening in the wall. I

3. The combination with a wall having an opening, of a bushing mounted therein and provided with 'a recess, with a plate rotatably and removably mounted on the wall and having a plurality of openings capable of being brought adjacent the opening in the wall; there being a portion of said plate capable of engaging the'recess of the bushing to retain it in lace.

4. The comb'nation with a wall having an opening; of a reversible plate mounted adjacent said opening and provided with a laterally projecting portion capable of entering the opening of the wall; there being an opening or openings in the plate capable of being brougiit into registry with the opening of the wa In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to tlris specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. x

"WILLTAM T. THOMAS. HENRY T. IPATSTE. Witnesses:

Wnmmm E. BRADLEY,

WM. A. Bane. 

